Top military officials told lawmakers in a closed door briefing on Tuesday that they may not be able to shoot down every Iranian drone being launched against US military installations and assets in retaliatory attacks, according to two people familiar with the matter. The officials, led by the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Dan Caine, said Iran has been deploying thousands of one-way atta...
Top military officials told lawmakers in a closed door briefing on Tuesday that they may not be able to shoot down every Iranian drone being launched against US military installations and assets in retaliatory attacks, according to two people familiar with the matter. The officials, led by the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Dan Caine, said Iran has been deploying thousands of one-way attack drones and while they have capacity to take down the vast majority but not all of the barrage. As a result, the officials said in a classified briefing for lawmakers on Capitol Hill, the US was focused on destroying the launch sites for the drones and conventional missiles as quickly as possible. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details. In retaliation against US strikes, Iran has been launching its low-cost, one-way attack Shahed drones. By flying low and slow, the drones are seen to be better able to evade conventional air defenses than ballistic missiles. A senior administration official said Iran’s apparent drone strategy – to get the US to sacrifice its most sophisticated Patriot and Thaad interceptors – was misguided and unsuccessful because the US has been downing the drones with several different measures. Still, top Democrats in Congress have expressed concerns the US has been burning through interceptors to defend against ballistic missiles launched by Iran. Caine acknowledged that concern, a person familiar with the matter said, even as he expressed confidence in stockpile levels in public. “We have sufficient precision munitions for the task at hand, both on the offense and defense,” Caine said at a news conference at the Pentagon on Wednesday morning, although he offered no details or specifics. The high rate of fire has been expensive. In the first days of the war, the US spent about $2bn per day, although that figure has dropped to closer to $1bn and is expected to fall further as the conflict continues, according to a pe...
Investing in the private-credit market can offer high yields, but the downside risks are real and increasingly visible. The main concerns fall into four categories: valuation opacity, liquidity risk, credit deterioration, and structural vulnerabilities. Bringing the issue into sharper focus, prominent financial leaders, including JPMorgan JPM CEO Jamie Dimon, have warned about the growing risks th...
Investing in the private-credit market can offer high yields, but the downside risks are real and increasingly visible. The main concerns fall into four categories: valuation opacity, liquidity risk, credit deterioration, and structural vulnerabilities. Bringing the issue into sharper focus, prominent financial leaders, including JPMorgan JPM CEO Jamie Dimon, have warned about the growing risks that the private-credit market poses to the broader economy. This makes it a worthy topic of whether there is opportunity in private credit stocks, or if there is indeed too much risk ahead. What are Private Credit Risks? Private credit risk refers to the vulnerabilities and potential losses associated with lending in the private credit market, where non-bank lenders provide loans that are not traded on public markets. The core idea is that this market offers higher yields but comes with less transparency, weaker regulation, and higher borrower risk than traditional bank or public debt markets. Stocks with high exposure to private credit risks are largely concentrated among major alternative asset managers and Business Development Companies (BDCs), particularly those with significant software and technology sector lending. Software Sector Risk: Many BDCs have about 25% of their portfolios in software, which is vulnerable to AI-induced disruption and refinancing difficulties. Rising Defaults: Analysts predict potential default rates for U.S. private credit firms could rise significantly, up to 13%, if AI disrupts the software sector. Bank Contagion: Some regional bank stocks are also facing pressure due to exposure to risky private loans. Blue Owl Capital is a Stock to Avoid at the Moment Landing a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), Blue Owl Capital OWL is a notable private credit stock to avoid at the moment. Although Blue Owl’s attractive P/E valuation and stock price of $10 a share may be luring to investors, EPS revisions for FY26 and FY27 have continued to trend lower. Despite trading...
Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Broadcom Inc. Chief Executive Officer Hock Tan said the company expects its AI chip sales to top $100 billion next year, marking major inroads into territory dominated by Nvidia Corp. “We have line of sight” to reach this milestone in 2027, he said during a conference call with analysts. “We have also secured the supply chain required to achieve this.” Mo...
Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Broadcom Inc. Chief Executive Officer Hock Tan said the company expects its AI chip sales to top $100 billion next year, marking major inroads into territory dominated by Nvidia Corp. “We have line of sight” to reach this milestone in 2027, he said during a conference call with analysts. “We have also secured the supply chain required to achieve this.” Most Read from Bloomberg The company projects that AI chip revenue will be $10.7 billion in the current quarter, so reaching an annual pace of $100 billion would be a major jump. Broadcom reported $20 billion in AI sales in 2025. The shares gained about 4% in late trading on Tan’s remarks. WATCH: “These are good numbers,” Gil Luria, head of technology research at D.A. Davidson, says about Broadcom’s first-quarter earnings and revenue guidance.Source: Bloomberg The CEO has increasingly hitched Broadcom’s fortunes to AI. Though Nvidia remains the biggest maker of accelerators — the chips that help train and run artificial intelligence models — Broadcom has positioned itself as an alternative with its custom-made semiconductors. The company’s AI chip targets include both accelerators and networking semiconductors. Broadcom also delivered a better-than-estimated quarterly outlook on Wednesday and announced a stock buyback plan worth as much as $10 billion. Revenue will be about $22 billion in the fiscal second quarter, which ends May 3, the company said. Analysts had predicted $20.5 billion on average, though some projections topped $22 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Broadcom’s Hock Tan expects AI to bolster sales growth.Source: Bloomberg The company had faced skepticism about its AI prospects this year, with Broadcom shares falling 8.3% through the close. Investors have grown more concerned about a bubble in artificial intelligence spending, and even a blockbuster earnings report from Nvidia last month led to a stock selloff. One key question is whether the cu...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Executive Chairman and CEO — Jay L. Schottenstein President and Executive Creative Director, American Eagle and Aerie — Jennifer M. Foyle Chief Financial Officer — Michael R. Mathias TAKEAWAYS Total Revenue -- $1.8 billion, up 10%, reaching an all-time quarterly high and accelerating from the previous quarte...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Executive Chairman and CEO — Jay L. Schottenstein President and Executive Creative Director, American Eagle and Aerie — Jennifer M. Foyle Chief Financial Officer — Michael R. Mathias TAKEAWAYS Total Revenue -- $1.8 billion, up 10%, reaching an all-time quarterly high and accelerating from the previous quarter. -- $1.8 billion, up 10%, reaching an all-time quarterly high and accelerating from the previous quarter. Comparable Sales -- Increased 8% in total, with Aerie and OFFL/NE up 23% and American Eagle up 2%. -- Increased 8% in total, with Aerie and OFFL/NE up 23% and American Eagle up 2%. Gross Profit -- $651 million, up 9%, with gross margin at 37%, down 30 basis points due to net tariff pressure of approximately $50 million. -- $651 million, up 9%, with gross margin at 37%, down 30 basis points due to net tariff pressure of approximately $50 million. Adjusted Operating Income -- $180 million, up 27% from last year and above recent guidance ($167 million–$170 million), driven by strong performance at Aerie and OFFL/NE. -- $180 million, up 27% from last year and above recent guidance ($167 million–$170 million), driven by strong performance at Aerie and OFFL/NE. SG&A Expense -- $418 million, up 4%, with SG&A rate leveraging 120 basis points due to revenue growth and disciplined cost control. -- $418 million, up 4%, with SG&A rate leveraging 120 basis points due to revenue growth and disciplined cost control. Annual Revenue -- $5.5 billion, up 3% to last year, representing a record high for the company. -- $5.5 billion, up 3% to last year, representing a record high for the company. Annual Adjusted Operating Income -- $328 million; full-year free cash flow was not directly disclosed. -- $328 million; full-year free cash flow was not directly disclosed. Year-End Cash -- $239 million, with total liquidity of approximately $930 million and no debt. -- $239 million, with total li...
PM Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images My first article was written last July, and the subject of that article was the Amplify Digital Payments ETF ( IPAY ), with the thesis having three main pillars: the structural tailwind of the adoption of digital payments, the valuation of the fund compared to the broader market, and the thesis that the concerns over stablecoins and crypto disruption were o...
PM Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images My first article was written last July, and the subject of that article was the Amplify Digital Payments ETF ( IPAY ), with the thesis having three main pillars: the structural tailwind of the adoption of digital payments, the valuation of the fund compared to the broader market, and the thesis that the concerns over stablecoins and crypto disruption were overblown. Data by YCharts That call has not aged well. IPAY currently trades at around $45, indicating a decline of approximately 25% from the point at which the original article was written, underperforming the market over that period. The thesis did not adequately factor in the pace and scope of several converging headwinds that have subsequently materialized, ranging from the sharp decline in PayPal Holdings, Inc. ( PYPL ) and Fiserv, Inc. ( FISV ) fundamentals, to name a few, to a new round of fundamental concern over the threat of AI-driven disruption to traditional payment systems and high interest rates pressuring consumer sentiment. This follow-up article will review the assumptions, go over what has changed, and give an updated view on the fund. The Fund Amplify Digital Payments ETF seeks to replicate the total return of the NASDAQ CTA Global Digital Payments Index, gaining exposure to global traditional companies in the payment space like Visa Inc. ( V ) and Mastercard Incorporated ( MA ) and relatively new, disruptive companies in the industry such as crypto giant Coinbase Global, Inc. ( COIN ), providing a balanced approach to gaining exposure to this investment theme. The index consists of as many as 50 companies with at least $500 million in market cap, at least $1 million in daily traded value over the last three months, and at least a 20% float. The weighting is market cap weighted. You can read up more on the index methodology here . Since the writing of the initial article, IPAY has dropped substantially in terms of assets under management, dropping to $17...
Key Points You get credit for delaying your Social Security claim past full retirement age. Once you turn 70, there's no financial incentive to wait on benefits. Holding off too long could actually cost you. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › One of the biggest financial decisions you might make in retirement is figuring out when to claim Social Security. And you...
Key Points You get credit for delaying your Social Security claim past full retirement age. Once you turn 70, there's no financial incentive to wait on benefits. Holding off too long could actually cost you. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › One of the biggest financial decisions you might make in retirement is figuring out when to claim Social Security. And you'll be rewarded if you decide to delay your claim beyond full retirement age, which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. For each year you hold off on taking benefits beyond full retirement age, those checks get a permanent 8% boost. So if your full retirement age is 67, filing for Social Security at 70 gives you benefits that are 24% higher. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » But while it could make sense to delay your Social Security claim until age 70, one thing that makes no sense is to wait beyond age 70 to file. Because delayed retirement credits run out at 70, waiting longer than that only denies you income you could be collecting sooner. And if you wait too long beyond your 70th birthday to file for Social Security, you could have a serious loss on your hands. Social Security will pay recipients up to six months of retroactive benefits. So if you delay your claim past full retirement age and don't file for benefits until you're 70 and three months old, there's not much to worry about. Social Security will pay you three months of retroactive benefits dating back to your 70th birthday. If you don't file for benefits until 71, though, you risk losing out on six months of Social Security income (or more, depending on your exact filing date). That's money you're giving up for no reason. So if you're going to delay your claim past full retirement age for larger checks, don't wait beyond ...
Image source: The Motley Fool. March 4, 2026 CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Hock Tan Chief Financial Officer — Kirsten Spears Chief Operating Officer — Charlie Coaz Head of Investor Relations — Ji Yoo Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] TAKEAWAYS Total Revenue -- $19.3 billion, up 29%, driven by outperformance in AI semiconductors. -- $19.3 b...
Image source: The Motley Fool. March 4, 2026 CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Hock Tan Chief Financial Officer — Kirsten Spears Chief Operating Officer — Charlie Coaz Head of Investor Relations — Ji Yoo Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email [email protected] TAKEAWAYS Total Revenue -- $19.3 billion, up 29%, driven by outperformance in AI semiconductors. -- $19.3 billion, up 29%, driven by outperformance in AI semiconductors. Adjusted EBITDA -- $13.1 billion, 68% of revenue; a record level, above guidance. -- $13.1 billion, 68% of revenue; a record level, above guidance. Q2 Revenue Guidance -- $22 billion, representing expected acceleration to 47% growth. -- $22 billion, representing expected acceleration to 47% growth. Semiconductor Revenue -- $12.5 billion, up 52%, with AI semiconductor revenue at $8.4 billion, up 106%. -- $12.5 billion, up 52%, with AI semiconductor revenue at $8.4 billion, up 106%. Q2 AI Semiconductor Guidance -- $10.7 billion, projecting 140% growth, driving anticipated $14.8 billion total semiconductor revenue. -- $10.7 billion, projecting 140% growth, driving anticipated $14.8 billion total semiconductor revenue. AI Networking Revenue -- Up 60%; reached one third of AI revenue, expected to rise to 40% of total AI revenue next quarter. -- Up 60%; reached one third of AI revenue, expected to rise to 40% of total AI revenue next quarter. Customer Accelerator Business -- Grew 140%, with continued momentum projected; Meta’s MTIA roadmap specifically cited as "alive and well." -- Grew 140%, with continued momentum projected; Meta’s MTIA roadmap specifically cited as "alive and well." Component Supply Secured -- "we have fully secured capacity of these components for 2026 through 2028," per management statement. -- "we have fully secured capacity of these components for 2026 through 2028," per management statement. 2027 AI Revenue Outlook -- Management stated, "Today, in fact, we have line of sight to achieve AI reve...
US Representative Maria Elvira Salazar, a Florida Republican, urges the US government to take decisive action against the Cuban regime, describing it as the "mothership of evil" in the Western Hemisphere. She speaks on "Balance of Power: Evening Edition." (Source: Bloomberg)
US Representative Maria Elvira Salazar, a Florida Republican, urges the US government to take decisive action against the Cuban regime, describing it as the "mothership of evil" in the Western Hemisphere. She speaks on "Balance of Power: Evening Edition." (Source: Bloomberg)
South Korean equities bounced back after their biggest one-day slump on record, as bargain hunters stepped back into a market battered by panic selling. The benchmark Kospi surged as much as 12%, the biggest intraday gain since October 2008, after sinking by about the same amount on Wednesday. Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. , the chip heavyweights that paced the country’s world-beating ...
South Korean equities bounced back after their biggest one-day slump on record, as bargain hunters stepped back into a market battered by panic selling. The benchmark Kospi surged as much as 12%, the biggest intraday gain since October 2008, after sinking by about the same amount on Wednesday. Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. , the chip heavyweights that paced the country’s world-beating gains since the start of last year, both jumped more than 13%. South Korea briefly halted program trading in Kospi and Kosdaq markets after futures jumped at the open. “Given the strength of the bull run in Korea earlier in 2026, and the country’s reliance on energy imports, it is not surprising the Kospi has been the market to lead the equity falls in Asia,” said Mark Preskett , a senior portfolio manager at Morningstar Wealth. There will be continued support for the Kospi thanks to the attractive valuations for SK Hynix and Samsung, the key beneficiaries of the global artificial intelligence boom, he said. The slide earlier this week was driven by the jump in oil prices caused by the Iran war, which led to panic selling. Despite Thursday’s bounce, there are still plenty of reasons to be cautious, as margin debt is hovering near record highs, and the Middle East crisis may deteriorate further. With the Kospi still up more than 30% this year even after the plunge, investors are weighing whether this week’s volatile swings mark the end of an overheated rally, or the start of a more selective phase of opportunity in Asia’s fourth-largest economy. “These selloffs, especially in the last two days are completely positioning-driven, not fundamental driven,” said Rob Li , managing partner at Amont Partners, a hedge fund in New York. Li thinks there are good opportunities to selectively buy Korean equities after the crash. “We want to be very surgical in terms of buying the companies,” he said, adding that SK Hynix fits the bill given its strong free cash flow generation and a reas...
Arsenal are now firmly cast as the villains of the Premier League title race - but this frenzied night at Brighton might just be the one that ultimately makes them victors. The Gunners would, in all likelihood, end up as unpopular, unloved champions as their hard-nosed approach comes under increasingly unflattering scrutiny. And more came their way after a contentious eyesore of a game settled by ...
Arsenal are now firmly cast as the villains of the Premier League title race - but this frenzied night at Brighton might just be the one that ultimately makes them victors. The Gunners would, in all likelihood, end up as unpopular, unloved champions as their hard-nosed approach comes under increasingly unflattering scrutiny. And more came their way after a contentious eyesore of a game settled by Bukayo Saka's early goal, one that saw Arsenal's lead at the top of the table extended to seven points to create a potentially decisive advantage. Will Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta care if the means justify the end of a 22-year wait to win the Premier League? Unlikely. Arteta's side have been criticised for what outside observers regard as their employment of dark arts and an over-reliance on set-piece expertise to maintain their position at the top of the table. And the 1-0 victory at The Amex was the very definition of ugly. In fact to describe it as "ugly" is an insult to ugly. When the half-time whistle arrived their xG was just 0.01 and the second half was hardly an improvement given it took until the 88th minute for Kai Havertz to register their second effort on target. The final result was the 10th time this season they have won by a single goal. It was certainly not pleasing on the eye to Brighton's head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who spent almost the entire game enraged by Arsenal's strategy and what unfolded before him. And yet, as the Gunners fans reacted joyously at the final whistle to this win and also at Manchester City's failure to beat Nottingham Forest, this beast of a triumph might turn out to be a beauty. As Arsenal celebrated and City slipped, this felt like it may well be the defining night in this tense battle to the Premier League finishing line. This is not a popularity contest. It is a title contest Arsenal are currently winning. Hurzeler, who flagged up what he clearly regarded as Arsenal's time-wasting before the game, did not have his opinion ch...